SEOUL: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says Malaysia is requesting that the delivery schedule for the FA-50M Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) from South Korea be accelerated.
Previously, deliveries were scheduled to be finalised in 2026, in several batches.
"We have requested that the delivery of the 18 aircraft, which were purchased several years ago, be expedited, if possible," the prime minister said during a press conference with Malaysian media here today.
Anwar concluded his three-day visit to South Korea today, at the invitation of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
However, Anwar did not elaborate on the negotiation process to expedite the deliveries of the fighter aircraft.
In September, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that the manufacturer, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), and its technology partner, Hanwha Aerospace, had revealed that construction of the fighters for the Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF) LCA programme had reached 38 per cent.
The FA-50Ms will replace the ageing BAE Systems Hawk 108/208 aircraft, which have been in service with the RMAF since 1995.
KAI is the prime contractor for the FA-50M, while Hanwha Aerospace is the manufacturer of the advanced Active Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA) radar that will be fitted to the aircraft.
The jets ordered by the RMAF are the advanced Block 20 variant, equipped with advanced targeting systems, including the Sniper ATP (Advanced Targeting Pod) and a retractable in-flight refuelling system. The aircraft is capable of delivering a wide range of precision-guided munitions (PGMs) and stand-off weapons. They will be used primarily in the light strike role and will complement the RMAF's F/A-18D Hornets and Sukhoi Su-30MKM Flankers in that mission.
The LCA programme is valued at approximately RM4 billion.